Saskatchewan is one of those provinces you drive through to get to your destination. In one of my jobs, I flew into Saskatoon or Regina a few times a year and drove around to the smallest of communities…and was so thankful for that job. I got to experience the amazing beauty in this province that most people would never see staying on the TransCanada Highway. During those travels, I wish I had Only in Saskatchewan tucked into my suitcase to stop and enjoy the restaurants and food producers mentioned in this book. Author Naomi Hansen provides some interesting background on each featured region and culinary influences.
Let’s take a look at a few culinary destinations to add to your bucket list…and then get in the car and start driving! We’ll start in north Saskatchewan and make our way south:
Four hours north of Saskatoon, head to Lac La Ronge to stay at Thompson’s Resort where you can fish all day and the dining room will cook up your catch for dinner…now that’s fresh! Roughing it not your cup of tea? Head south for a few hours to be pampered and enjoy fine dining.
At the heart of the boreal forest, you’ll find Elk Ridge Resort … a place to relax, enjoy a spa plus indulge in dining options like The Wylde or Fredrick. Be sure to try their bison osso bucco or locally sourced elk rack. The food and scenery are spectacular!
Saskatoon has a lot to offer foodies and imbibers. Join the Grazing Dinner Event in September at the Meewasin Valley Conservation area. A nice hike through lush landscapes followed by a three course meal will have you appreciating the beauty and the bounty.
Enjoy exploring local wine bars? Scoot over to Saskatoon’s POP (Paris of the Prairies) Wine Bar and dive into a plate of oysters and caviar or charcuterie board with your cocktail – a great place to spend a few hours with friends!
In Regina, you’ll want to visit The Cure Kitchen + Bar where great food and entertainment are all designed for the young at heart since the owners are also young entrepreneurs. Whether it’s trying the Chilaquiles at their weekend brunch or Quesabirria Tacos, the Spanish flare will keep you smiling!
East of Regina, skirting Elkhorn, Manitoba and on the TransCanada Highway, you’ll find the little alcove of Fleming, SK. Here you’ll look for the Extraordinary Light Gallery of photographic art that’s only open for about six weeks each summer (mid-July to end of August). Nestled amongst the beautiful artwork is a café serving up delectable Saskatoon pie served with French-pressed coffee…a countryside version of a Parisian art café!
Travel south to the small city of Estevan – I’ve been there and quite frankly it wasn’t very big but does have the distinction of being the eighth largest city in Saskatchewan. So, to my amazement, I found a culinary tour that takes place the last Saturday of each month. “We have amazing chefs and some really great people to share in the fun with.” Rebecca Westling of Tourism Estevan.
On the southwest side of the province, you’ll find Harvest Eatery in Shaunavon where you’ll want to try the Lake Diefenbaker Steelhead trout or the ever-popular tomahawk ribeye, then finish your meal with a Banana Bread Old Fashioned drink. Now that’s filling!
And since we’re in Saskatchewan, here’s a book that resonated with me…moving from big cities to the country (I’ve moved 32 times and lived in both city and country), a passion for making food for people we love, and adjusting to the many challenges life throws our way (who can’t relate to that??). Author dee Hobsbawn-Smith takes us on her journey from Vancouver BC to Calgary AB to Dogpatch SK and her personal and career decisions along the way. I asked dee how long it took for her to feel at home in the country and I loved her answer: “That depended on the day… it was immediate, and it took months.”
With a culinary spoon in big cities like Vancouver and Calgary, dee leaves the big lights and food scenes to look after her aging parents and live on the familial homestead in Dogpatch, Saskatchewan – west of Saskatoon. dee begins and ends the story of her culinary and literary road with a homage to her dad…from ginger beef in the preface to serving two kinds of soup at her dad’s wake in the postscript, dee peppers the pages in between with her memories and food.
Having grown up on a farm of apple trees and cucumber fields, I could relate to dee’s many challenges of living far from amenities and services. Weathering nature’s cruel jokes, whether floods, blizzards or droughts, is a common topic among farm people. dee brings us into her world of these challenges and you feel like you’re living them with her.
I asked dee what she likes to make in her kitchen these days: “My go-to dish for family and friends varies, with the season and the weather and my mood. This time of year, I make pizza on the outdoor grill and we eat outside on the patio with our friends and family. In winter, I make a lot of South Asian food, but most often I make porchas (Spanish style great northern beans simmered with smoked pork hock) and we eat it indoors with salad and good sourdough bread as we watch the wind whip the snow past the sunroom windows.” We want you to make both dishes so head to our Recipe section and start cooking!
You can purchase any of dee’s books at https://deehobsbawnsmith.com/